U.S. Troops Openly Scout Bosnian Town

The first U.S. troops to operate openly in Bosnia moved out Thursday to check bases and communications before 20,000 others start arriving next month to help enforce a peace deal.

A 10-member U.S. Army team and a 10-member Air Force group arrived in the Bosnian government-controlled town of Tuzla on Wednesday to inspect its airstrip and the Americans’ future command post for the volatile northeast sector.

The Americans were going about their work openly, in contrast to two secret visits by survey teams just before and just after a Bosnia peace deal was reached in Dayton, Ohio, last week.

The deployment of a 60,000-strong peace force, a third of them Americans, is a key element of the package.

“We’re doing whatever’s necessary to prepare for operations in this sector,” said Col. John Brown, chief of staff of the U.S. 1st Armored Division, which will provide the bulk of U.S. troops policing the Bosnia peace agreement. “We should be here about four or five days looking at facilities.”

While Army personnel were scouting the Tuzla area, the Air Force team led by Col. Neal Patton was evaluating the condition of the Tuzla airfield.

Patton expressed satisfaction with the state of the runways and control tower but said tarmac lights had to be fixed and additional radar and radio equipment installed.